The Significance of the Shepherds
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The birth of Jesus and visit of the shepherds
Now at this time Caesar Augustus issued a decree for a census of the whole world to be taken. This census - the first - took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria, and everyone went to his own town to be registered. So Joseph set out from the town of Nazareth in Galilee and travelled up to Judaea, to the town of David called Bethlehem, since he was of David's House and line.
in order to be registered together with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there the time came for her have her child, and she birth to a son, her first born. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them at the inn. In the countryside close by there were shepherds who lived in the fields and took it in turns to watch their flocks during the night. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone round them. They were terrified, but the angel said, 'Do not be afraid. Listen, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. And here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.' And suddenly with the angel there was a great throng of the heavenly host, praising God and singing: 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace to men who enjoy his favor.' Now when the angels had gone from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us'.
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Why is it significant that God sent the Angels to shepherds, the lowest class of people?
Because we do not know our value. We think our value comes from some accomplishment or personal attribute, from our profession or our beauty or our kids.
The problem with basing your worth and identity on these things is that they all fade away: professions end, accomplishments fade, our health and physical beauty wilts and the kids leave.
Pride is all the ways we try to validate our existence and find our identity and happiness apart from God.
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Only God can give us our true and lasting identity and worth.
The Angels came to the shepherds saying: We bring you Good News of a great joy! A little baby has been born in Bethlehem. You will find him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. He has come to make you something very great – sons and daughters of God Most High. And you will reign with him forever and ever.
That is your worth. You were made in the Image of God and called to be sons and daughters of God.
That is very Good News of a great joy!
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But people don’t know their value.
When people think they are worthless, then they treat themselves and others as worthless.
Therefore, we must be angels, messengers of the Good News! God looks at every person in the world and says: “It is good that you exist, how wonderful you are. You make the world better just by being in it.”
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Be Angels, Messengers, Apostles of Delight.
Find the inherent goodness in others and delight in it and show them you delight in them. Then they will begin to see their own dignity and worth. Then they will begin to become open to their divine calling – to be sons and daughters of God by sharing in His life through the little baby born in Bethlehem. For God became man so that man could become god.